Idaho Building (Chicago World's Fair) facts for kids
The Idaho Building was a special building made for the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. It was designed by an architect named Kirtland Cutter. The building looked like a cozy log cabin, made from natural materials. Many people loved it, and about 18 million visitors came to see it! Its unique design and furniture were very important. They helped start a new style called the Arts and Crafts movement. The building was located in Jackson Park, a bit far from another building it looked like, called the Forestry Building.
Building the Idaho House
The Idaho Building was made completely from materials found in Idaho. It was like a log house built on a base of strong rocks, like lava and basalt. The logs came from young cedar trees. They were treated to make them look old and rustic.
The roof was covered with special wooden tiles called "shakes." Heavy rocks held these shakes in place. This helped the roof stay strong even during the big winds in Chicago. The main entrance was a beautiful arched doorway made of stone. It led into a large main room. At one end of this room was a fireplace made of sticks, with a log above it.
Stairs went up to the second floor. The windows on this floor had a special material called mica instead of glass. Mica is a clear, shiny mineral. This floor had separate areas for men and women. Each room was decorated to remind visitors of mining, which was important in Idaho. The men's fireplace was made of lava rock. The tools used to hold logs in the fireplace, called andirons, looked like bear traps and fishing spears. The furniture also had designs inspired by Native American tools, like arrows, spears, and tomahawks.
After the World's Fair, someone bought the Idaho Building. They moved it to be a summer home near a resort in the northern part of the United States.
Images for kids
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The Idaho Building at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair
